By Christina Q. Cross
When planning your next family vacation, you may come across some activities that would be great sans the kids. Do you decide that someday you’ll just have to come back to the destination without them to enjoy those attractions? Or, do you decide to employ a local babysitting service?
Typically, large hotels offer a list of local babysitters or sitter agencies. Some resorts also offer private “in-room babysitters” for infants too young for children’s programs. However, it may be difficult to guarantee that the caregivers will be available when you need them or you may not have the ability to screen the caregivers ahead of time.
Yet, sometimes the best sitter service referrals are from, after all, other moms you know and trust who have vacationed at similar destinations. Long before I became a mom while living in San Diego, I heard praises sung about Munchkin Minders by our friends with 4 kids from San Francisco. When our friends joined us for dinner, they would always hire Munchkin Minders to watch their kids while either staying at La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla or at the Four Seasons, Aviara. Fast-forward to today, and my husband and I hire Munchkin Minders on a regular basis to watch our son when we go out on date nights in the San Diego area.
So, should you find yourself vacationing in San Diego and in need of a local sitter service, I highly recommend Munchkin Minders. 
Here are just some of the many San Diego locations where they have provided in-room childcare for hotel guests: The Grand Del Mar; Four Seasons Resort, Aviara; La Costa Resort and Spa; Hard Rock Hotel; Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina; South Coast Winery in Temecula; and the Levyland Estate in Carlsbad.
Munchkin Minder’s sister company is Molly Coddlers, which services the needs of Orange County, Long Beach and Los Angeles families as well families vacationing in local hotels and resorts. Both companies are licensed, bonded and fully insured. They also carefully screen each their care providers via personal face–to-face interviews, verifying their work experience, checking childcare-related references, completing a thorough background check (including criminal background investigation, sex offender check, DMV history and Social security verification), and ensuring that the sitters have current CPR and First Aid certification.
If your travels take you outside of Southern California, a great way to find a reputable local babysitting agency is to search the International Nanny Association website which provides a state-by-state listing of reputable agencies throughout the United States. Always, be sure to check agency and care provider references in advance.
So relax and enjoy some adult time on your next vacation!
